How much plastic is on a Deere?

[Partsman2]

Both companies make fine machines. I have a JD 4710 which has a plastic hood and plastic fenders. They flex when you hit something, and won't rust or dent. I think it is a great improvement over steel.

As far as any other plastic components, I would say that if JD is doing it now the other companies will follow suite soon. I wouldn't be concerned with it.

 

[pdub]

I think some good points have been made so far, but I'd like to add my two cents.

First of all, John Deere, New Holland and Case IH all use "ABS" plastic hoods and fenders. I think most people would agree that they would rather have this than sheet metal, which is prone to rust and dents. Then again, some people think that sheet metal makes it a "real" tractor. Its all perception and preference. I don't think this should be the issue at hand.

The issue in my mind is the hoods on the new 3020 and 4020 series. Neil Messick made a good point above about how NH and Case IH use a steel subframe to support the hood. This eliminates any flex of the hood when it is raised. I don't want to cause any cognitive dissonance to 3020 and 4020 owners, but I was rather unimpressed with the way the hoods flexed when they were opened. First of all, my first impression of the tractor was that some cost had been taken out of the product... and to me that is not a good thing unless the surplus curve swings towards the consumer side of the equation (price decreases). Secondly, if I were to open the hood while the engine was hot, I would burn my hood because it rubs against the muffler when it is lifted. I have heard this is a common occurence, especially on the 4020 series.

Now don't get me wrong I think that Deere makes a good product, but a lot of their brand image is due to their brilliant marketing, not necessarily because they have a higher quality product.

 

[JT1972]

Also think its interesting to note that NH and CIH were the first to use the ABS plastics, an earlier post suggested that JD is always on the cutting edge and the first to the market with innovations for the customer. NH has been using the ABS plastic for over five years as well as the sloped hood and the curved boom loader JD has now come with this year.

 

[MessickFarmEqu]

They also used the same loader removal system as Deere is now using years ago. The TC30 is striklingly simular. We just traded an old Case 235 with an AgTec loader thats 15 years old that drops off the same way. Not much has changed over the years, its alot of perception.

 

[dmp437]

A little more composite reading >HERE< from the farmer's perspective and >HERE< for the engineering perspective.

 

[Panache]

My JD5200 has a lot of ABS plastic on it. Hood, side panels and fenders. It is 10 years old.

 

[DennoAce]

Coming from heavy equip my whole life, I too was not too fond of the "plastic" hood on my new 4110. However, that is where everything is going and it does have advantages.

All I had to see was a recent Caterpillar machine and a brand new Toro machine - these are both top notch products - both with these types of body panels and I felt much better. If these guys AND JD are doing it, it is for the best.